The Empire Strikes Back, Budget Black Hole's & Anti Democracy at NLC. Ep 34

This week on What’s the Point?, democracy meets the Dark Side.In an episode inspired by a galaxy not so far away, we break down a chaotic week at North Lanarkshire Council, where procedure, power, and points of order took centre stage.We look closely at the widening budget crisis, and the growing concern that decision-making at NLC is becoming increasingly officer-led and tightly controlled through process.And yes, we also discuss events in the chamber this week, where multiple Points of Order were ruled out under Standing Order 14, before the basis of those points could even be heard.Presiding over it all was the Lord Provost himself, Kenny Duffy, “the Lord of the Dark Side”: wielder of the gavel, master of the instant ruling, and guardian of order… whether anyone finishes a sentence or not.Along the way, we cover:• The Audit Scotland report and what it really says about governance at NLC• A projected £136.9m budget gap and why a “strategic shift” is now unavoidable• Claims of officer-led structures and diminished councillor influence• Recent committee resignations and the fight to return power to Full Council• The growing tension between democratic debate and procedural controlThis episode uses satire, humour, and evidence-based discussion to explore a serious question:Is procedure being used to support democracy — or to manage it out of the room?🎙️ What’s the Point? is a political education show focused on transparency, governance, and how local democracy actually works.📻 Live every Tuesday at 7pm on Listen Lanarkshire 107.7 FM🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and TikTok📚 Full back catalogue from the past year available nowIf you care about how North Lanarkshire Council is run, and who really holds the gavel, this episode is for you.